Interrupter device for ignition systems.



J. M. SMITH.

INTERRUPTER DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

Patehted June 10,1913

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' ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

J. M. SMITH.

INTERRUPTER DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZE, 1910.

J. M. SMITH.

INTERRUPTER DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED MAY25,'1910.

1,064, 176, Patented June 10, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR TIET TEMEF TL QM. 4+ 62% fl gaefi l ATTORNEYS Jmsm. SMITH, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or oNE-HApr-ro CHARLES ADSIT MAGRUDER, OF BRYN IVIAWR, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERRUPTER DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

To all wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interrupter Devices for Ignition Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tc-inake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in magneto electric generators; and the invention relates, more particularly, to a magneto electric generator provided with a novel construction and arrangement of interrupting or circuit make and break devices for controlling the fiow of electrical current in the circuits of an ignition system for internal combustion motors.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a norel con struction of interrupter or circuit make and break devices for controlling the flow of current in a magneto or normally closed circuit, the current of which is generated by the magneto generator, and also for controlling the flow of current in an auxiliary battery or normally open circuit.

My novel construction of interrupter or circuit make and break devices isicapalrle of use in any system of ignition for internal combustion motors, but is particularly adapted for use in connection with. the wiring system illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such a system being tLlliglLiQIlsion ignition system devised by me, and described and claimed in an application for Letters-Patent filed May 25, 1910,Serial No. 563,237. In the system thus illustrated there are employed two electrical circuits, one circuit being a normally closed circuit, the current of which is generated by the said magneto generator, the other circuit being a normally open circuit, the current of which is supplied by batteries. both circuits being controlled, at will, by suitable switching means so as to pass either one or the other current. as controlled and timed by my novel interrupter or make and break de- Specification of Emitters Patent. Application filed Ma a, 1910.

Serial No. 563,238.

vice, through a single transformer coiliand high tension distrlbuting device.

A further ob ect of the present invention Patented June 10, 1913. a

is to provide suitable interrupter or make and break devices adapted to be readily and effectively combined with a magneto generator, and operated by one or the other of the shafts of said generator in any-desirable arrangement, that is either operated together by a single shaft, or one on each shaft respectively of said magneto generator, by means of suitable operating cammembers arranged upon the desired shaft or shafts.

()ther objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of my present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel constrgzction of interrupter or make and break devices for magneto generators hereinafter set forth,

and the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of one-practical embodimentof mymovel construction of interrupter or make and break devices with a magneto generator, and showing the same wired in connection with said novel system f high tension ignition for internal combustion motors. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said combined magneto generator and novel interrupter or make and break devices. Fig. is a detail vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on line 33 in said Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow as. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section taken on line 4-4 in said Fig. 3- to further illustrate the detailed construction of my novel interrupting or make and break"de vices, and one form of combining thesame with a magneto generator. Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating, more particularly, the

operation of said novel interrupter or make and break devices. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a. novel yieldable contact means used inconnection with said inter-' rupter or make and break devices. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a driving spindle and -cam members, for operating said interrupter devices, about to be secured thereon.

Similarcharacters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring, 'now, to the several figures of the'accompanying drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates a magneto generator comprising-the usual constructionof field magnets 2 supported upon the base-plate 3, and provided with the end-plates 4. Mounted between the pdles of said fieldmagnets 2 is a revoluble armature core 5,

the same, being connected with and driven by the shaft 6. Said armature core 5 is pro-' vided with the usual winding of wire 7. Secured to and supported by a journalplate '8, which is fastened to one end of said armature core 5, -is an outwardly extending spindle 9, the free end 10 of which is'of suitably reduced diameter and provided at its extreme end with screw-threads 11.

Secured to one end of sjaiglif'magneto generator' is a bearing-plate 12 provided upon its inner side with a concentric rib 18 which forms a bearing for said journal-plate 8. Extending outwardly from said bearingpl'ate 12 is a hollow cylindrical portion forming a bearing-member 14, provided in its outer wall with a centrally disposed hole or opening 15 adapted to permit the passage of said spindle 9 thei'ethrough. Movably journaled upon said bearing member 14 is the supporting hub 16 of a carrierplate 17 adapted to support and carry said interrupter or make and break devices to be subsequently described. Said carrierplate 17 is provided with outwardly extending arms 18 to which may be connected the usual lever connections for shifting said carrier-plate 17 and the devices supported thereon to so change their relation with the operating devices therefor, that the delivery of electrical current to the spark-plugs in the internal combustion motor may be ad-r vanced or retarded as desired. Sa d carrierplate 17 is provided with an outwardly pro jecting annular extension or shoulder 19 adapted to receive and support an inclosing casing 20, the latter being provided with suitable holding or retaining devices 21, for securing the same in its inclosing position. Said carrier-plate 17 is further provided with a centrally disposed hole or opening 22 adapted to permit the passage 'therethrough of said outwardly-extending spindle 9.

The reference-character 23' indicates a coupling member adapted to be secured to the reduced free ,end 10 of said spindle 9 so as to be revolved thereby. Said coupling-member 23 is provided upon its outer a flow of full voltage and amperage.

face with a plurality of radiating serrations or holding members 24. Loosely mounted upon said reduced free end 10 of said spindle 9 is a battery circuit interrupter cammember 25, the same being provided upon its circumferential face with the desired number of depressions 26 adapted to coprovide a momentary contact or closing of the battery circuit, of extremely short duration, thus economizing the use of battery current, while at the same time permitting Theduration of such contact is only sufficiently long to magnetize the primary winding of a transformer coil, so that at its interruption a current of high potential will be induced in the secondary winding of said coil. The said cam-member 25 is .provided with hub-members 27 upon the end face of which are a plurality of serrations or holding members 28, those on one face being adapted to engage the saidserrations or holding-members 24E of said coupling-member'23 in orderto couple the said caminember 25 therewith so that it will revolve with said spindle 9. In like manner there is next arranged upon said reduced portion 10 of said spindle 9 a ma' netdcircuit interrupter cam-member 29, the same being providedupon its circumferential face with thedesired number of outwardly extending cam-portions 30 adapted to cooperate with the magneto circuit interrupter or make and break device to be presentlydescribed, to obtain the required number of'circuit interruptions of said magneto or closed circuit desired in one revolution of the magneto-shaft operating said-cam-member 29. The design of this cam-member 29 is the reverse of that of said Cain-member 25,, being of such design as required to act as a normally closed circuit breaker or interrupter for the magneto-generator. The said cam-member 29 is also provided with hubmembers 31, upon the end face of one of which are a plurality of serrations or holding members 82,, the same being adapted to engage the said serrations or holding members 28 of said cam-member 25 in order to couple the said cam-member 29 with its neighbor so that it also" will be revolved with said spindle 9. The method of interlocking said cam-members 25 and 29 with eachother and with ,said coupling-member 23 by means of their respective serrations or holding 'members provides a means of said cam-members. The said serrations or holding members being in the formof fine radiating teeth which interlock wit-h each other when the two serrated faces are brought together, and when once adjusted they are positively held in such adjusted position with little or no danger of accidental displacement. The teeth of said serrations being very fine render possible a wide range of minute adjustment both with respect to each other as well as with the respective interrupter or make and break devices the same are designed to operate. and any degree of advance operation can be secured one in relation to the other as de sired. When once adjusted the said cammembers are secured in their interlocked position by means of a nut which is screwed upon said screw-threads 11 of said reduced free-end 10 of said spindle 9.

The said spindle 9 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening or passage through which extends a contact-rod or con ductor 34, the same being separated from electrical contact with said spindle 9 by means of an insulator-sleeve 35. The inner end of said insulator-sleeve 35 projects into the centrally disposed opening of an insulator disk 36' arranged upon the inner side of said journal-plate-S, and said contact-rod or conductor 34 projects through the inner side of said insulator-disk $6, and the free end of-said contact rod or conductor is provided with screw-threads for the reception of a nut 37 which serves to connect with said contact-rod or conductor a terminal plate 38, to one end of which is secured by solder, or any other suitable fastening means, oneend of the said armature winding 7. The outer end of said contact-rod or conduct0r84 is provided with a contact receiving head 39.

Suitably secured in convenient locations by means of screws or the like 40 to the said carrier-plate 17 are the base-plates 41 of contact-posts 42. The said base-plates 41 are insulated from electrical contact with said carrier-plate 17 and with said fastening-screws 40 respectively by means of insulator plates 43 and insulator sleeves 44 One of said contact-posts 42 is adapted to support an adjustable magneto circuit contact screw 45 rovided with a slotted head 46 for manipu ating the same, the other of said contact-posts 42 is adapted to support an adjustable battery circuit contact screw 47'also provided with a slotted head 48 for manipulating the same. Each of said contact-posts 42 is provided at its upper free end with a receiving socket 49 and an exterior screiv tl1i'ead 50 the latter being adapted to receive a correspondingly screwt-hreaded perforated cap-member 51 in the perforation of which is slidably arranged the outwardly protruding shank of a contact-point 52. The said contact point 52 is provided with a head 53 arranged within said cap-member 51 so as to limit the outward movement of said contact-point 52-. When said cap-members 51 are secured in place upon the ends of said contact posts 42, a coil-spring 54 arranged within the said receiving socket 49 bears against the head'of said contact-point 52 to present the same in a yieldable manner.

Secured to said carrier-plate 17 in con venient locations a'ndmanner is a fulcrum post 55 upon which is pivotally mounted the hub-portion 56 of a movable contact make and break device for closing a battery supplied circuit. Extending from said hubportion 56 is a forked-arm 57 in the fork of which is mounted upon an axis pin 58 a roller 59 which bears against. and rides upon the circumferential face of said cam-men's ber Extending outwardly from said hub-portion 56 is an interrupter or make and break arm 60 upon the free end of which is carried a contact-point 61, preferably made of platinum, and adapted to be brought in contact with the end of said battery circuit contact screw 47 when said in terrupter or make and break arm 60 is oscillated by the action of the cam-member 25 and its depressions 26in thigr traveling con tact with said roller 59 carried by said forked arm 57. The said forked arm 57 and its roller 59 is maintained in its operative relation with said cam-member 25 by means of a coil-spring (32. one end of which is arranged in a receiving socket 63 in said forked-arm 57, the other end beingsupported by the receiving socket 64 of a springsupport 65 secured to said carrier-plate 17; It will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings that as the cam-member 25 revolves a depression 26 is brought in. alinement with said roller 59 and by the action of the said spring 62 the roller drops into this depression thus permitting the interrupter arm and its contact-point which is normally maintained out of contact with said contact-screw 47 to move forward and make contact with the same, thus closing the normally open battery circuit. Secured to said carrier-plate 17 in a convenient location and manner is another fulcrum post 66 upon which is pivotally mounted a movable contact interrupter arm 67 for opening or breaking the circuit of a normally closed magneto circuit. Said arm 67 is provided with a cam-projection 68 and a contact carrving arm 69 upon the free end a of whlch 1s carried a contact-polnt 70, preferably made of platinum, and adapted to normally remain incontact with the end of said magneto circuit contact screw 45. he said cam-projection 68 of said interrupter arm 67 is adapted to be engaged by the camportions 30 of said cam-member 29 when the latter is rotated to oscillate said interrupter arm 67 and break the contact of said contact-point 70 with said contact screw 45. The said interrupter arm 67 is maintained in its normal circuit closing position by means-of a coil-spring 71, one-end of which is supported in a receiving socket 72 in said interrupterarm 67 and the other end of which. issupported by the receiving socket 73 of a spring-carrier 74 secured to said carrier-plate 17.

The outer wall of said inclosing casing 20 is provided with a centrally disposed binding-post 75 uponwhich are arranged the usual nut members 76 for securing thereto circuit wires. Said binding-post 75 is connected to a supporting sleeve or socket 77 which passes through a suitable opening in said inclosing casing 20, and which is insulated therefrom by an insulator sleeve and washer 78. Arranged in said supporting sleeve or socket 77 a brush-member 79 which extends inwardly and makes electrical contact with the contact-head 39 of said contact-rod or conductor 34, the said brush-member 79' being maintained in such contact by means of a coil-spring 80 arranged within said supporting sleeve or socket .77. Arranged in connection with, but insulated from, said inclos'ing casing 20 is another binding-post81 provided with a contact-receiving portion 82 upon the inner side ofsaid inclosing casing 20, adapted to be engaged by the contact-point 52of said contact-post 42 which supports said battery circuit contact screw 47. In like manner is arranged in. connection with, but insulated from, said inclosing casing 20 another binding-post 83 provided with a contact receiving portion 84 upon the inner side of said inclosing casing 20, adapted to be engaged by the contact point 52 of said contact-post -42'which supports said magneto circuit contactfs'crew 45. 45 I have illustrated the two interrupted devices -in .a compact combination but it will be readily understood that the same may be operated separately from different shafts of l il ithe said magneto genera-tor or from different 7 pointsof the same shaft and still accomplish the functions of my present invention.

I have illustrated my no'velarr'angement and construction of circuit interrupter-or make and break devices in connection-with a novel ignition system for internal combustion motors. When so connected the magneto or normally closed circuit is collected from the armature winding 7 by means of the contact rod or conductor 34 and said brush-member 79 and delivered by the wireconductor 85 to a switch terminal 86. Assuming the switch arm 87 of said switch to be shifted to the left, the current is bridged v by means of a contact-plate carried by said "switch-arm 87 to another switch-terminal 88 1, 4 and thence by way of a wire-conductor 89. to one of the terminals 90 of the primary winding ofa transformer coil 91, returning from the other terminal 92 of said primary-windlng of said transformer coil by way of a wire conductor 93 to another switch-terminal 94,,thence through said switch arm 87 to a switch terminal 95, and thence by ,a wire conductor 96 to said binding-postr83 to the magneto circuit interrupter and ground. The electrical current generated by the auxiliary battery set 97 passes along a wireconductor '98 to a switch terminal 99. Assuming the switch-arm 87 to be shifted to the right, the current is bridged by means ofsaid contact-plate carried by said switch arm 87 to said switch terminal 88, and thence by way of said wire conductor 89 to one of the terminals 90 of the primary winding of said transformer coil 91, returning from the other terminal 92 of said primary winding of the transformer coil 91 by Way of a wire conductor 93 to said switch terminal 94, thence through said'switch-arin S7 to a switch terminal 100, and thence through a'wire-conductor 101 to said binding-post 81 to said battery circuit interrupter, returning through ground, in the usual manner, to the ground return wire-conductor 102. The currentdelivered to the primary winding of said transformer coil 91 by either of the above described generator circuits magnetizes the same and induces at the moment of interruption of the magnetizing current a secondary current of high potential or voltage in the secondary winding of said transformer, coil, which is delivered from' the terminal 103 by way of the wire conductor 104 to the distributor arm terminal 105 of a high-tension distributerdevice 106. The said current thus provided is delivered through the several wire conductors 107 to their respective spark-plugs in the.

cylinders of the internalcombustion motor. returning by way of the ground in the usual manner.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as well as in the. details of the construction of the same,

without departing from the scope of my present invention, as defined in the appended. claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and as described in the accompanying specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

I claim 1 -1.. .The"combination with a magneto enerator' ofinterrupter devices for control ing the current in two circuits, one. circuit being a magneto or normally closed circuit, the

said second adjustable contact-point, means.

for operating respectively said interrupter arms to' cause the same to respectively break and make contact with their respective contact-points, comprising an operating canimember for each interrupter arm and means connected with said cam-members for establishing adjustable interlocking relation between the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a magneto generator of interrupter devices for controlling the current in two generating circuits, comprising two interrupter arms and two adjustable contact-points to be engaged thereby, the said interrupter arms being respectively of opposite electrical action, and revolving cam-members of opposite mechanical action for operating the respective interrupter arms'and means connected with said cammembers for establishing interlocked adj ustable relation between the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with a magneto generator of interrupter devices for controlling V connected with one of said Ctll11t116111b61$, the

a magneto or normally closed circuit and a battery or normally open circuit, comprising a contact means in said magneto circuit, another contact means in said battery circuit,

a pivotally mounted magneto circuit interby said roller on one of said projecting arms to oscillate said battery circuit interruptermember, anddneansconnected with said cam-members for establishing interlocked adjustable relation between the same, sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

st. The combination, with a magneto-generator, of interrupter devices and contact means therefor for respectively making and breaking a magneto circuit and a battery circuit, means connected with one end of said magneto-generator for supporting said interrupter devices and said contact means therefor, a rotating spindle connected with the armature of said magneto-generator,

cam-portions on said spindle for operating respectively said interrupter devices, and means for adjustably interlocking said cammembers with relation to each other, and upon said rotating spindle.

The combination, with a magneto-generator, of interrupter devices and contact means therefor for respectively making and breaking a magneto circuit and a battery circuit, means connected with one end of saidmagneto-generator for supporting said interrupter devices and said contact means therefor,'a rotating spindle connected with the armature of said magneto-generator, cam-portionson said spindle for operating respectively said interrupter devices, and means for adjustably interlocking said cammembers with relationto eacli other, and upon said rotating spindle, comprising a coupling-member secured upon said spindle. a plurality of radiating serrations upon the.

face of said couplingmember, hub-portions faces of said hub-portions being provided with a plurality of radiating serrations, the serrations of one hub-portion being adapted to engage the serrations of said coupling member, hub-portions connected with the other of said cam-members, the face of one of. said hub-portions being provided with serrationsadapted to adjustably engage the serrations of one of the hub-portions of said first-mentioned cam-portion, and a nut adapted to screw upon the free end of said spindle to bind said cam-rnembers and said coupling member in their interlocked relation one with the other. I

In testimony, that I claim theinvention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19th'day of May, 1910.

J AMES M. SMITH.

Witnesses NV. G. D. CRAIG VVRIoI-Ir,

JOHN A. STEER. 

